Sampler for well drillings



' NW4 1942- J. M; LILLIGREN SAMPLER FOR WELL mumm es Filad Odt. 12, 19584 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 24', 1942.

J. M. LILLIGREN SAMPLER 'FOR WELL- DRILLING Filed Oct. 1.2, 1958 4i'ieeis-Sh'eet 2 0006 m m w. NM v Q a Wm J Q :u mm

Nbv. 24, 1942. J; M. LILLIGREN 2,302,996 SAMPLE}! FOR WELL DRILLINGSFiled Oct. 12, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 J: M. llillgr'e l.

Nov; 24, 1942. J. M. LILLIGRENI 2,302,995

- sAMPLER' FOR WELL DRILLINGS Fil ed Oct. 12, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4IIIIIIIIIII'IIIIIIIIIIIJ r, '11

Patented Nov. 24, 1942 UNITED sTAT s earn orrica 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a sampler which is to be used when drilling anoil well, and it is one object of the invention to provide a device bymeans of which samples may be obtained from drillings discharged whiledrilling an oil well and thus permit a geologist to accurately determinethe type of rock or sand through which an 'oil well drill is cutting.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus of thischaracter wherein the drillings are discharged from a well into a troughthrough which they move, means being provided in the trough for removinga portion of the flowing mass of drillings and water for the full depththereof and thus cause the samples to contain both heavy and lightmaterial which might not otherwise be obtained when removing a sample.It will thus be seen that the sample obtained will be for the full depthof the material flowing through the trough and, when the sample isanalyzed by a geologist, he can accurately determine the type of stratathrough which the drill is boring and whether or not the well isapproachin a depth where oil is likely to be found.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thischaracter wherein the 'material removedfrom the trough by the meanstherein is passed along a screen through which water will drain and thesolid matter delivered from the screen onto a conveyer for carrying itthrough an oven. It will thus be seen that all of the solid matter willbe preserved and this solid matter then thoroughly dried so thatit maybe packed in sample bags and preserved for test: ing by a geologist.

I Another object of the inventionis to provide the apparatus with adrier so located. with respect to the screen that an endless conveyerextending transversely of the screen may be employed as means forpassing the cuttings through the drier and then discharge the driedcuttings or drillings into a hopper from which they will flow intosample bags carried by a carriage which is mounted for movement acrossthe discharge end of the conveyer. It will thus be seen that, asthe'sample bags are filled, the carriage holding the bags may be movedinto position to bring succeeding bags into position for-filling and thefilled bags removed and appropriately marked so that the geologist cantell the order in which the samples were received from the drier.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thischaracter which is comparatively simple in construction and in which allof the moving elements may be driven from a single source of power.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation of the improved sampling apparatus,

a Figure 2 is a top plan view of the sampling apparatus, Figure 3 is aview the front, 7

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken through the sample bag holderalongthe line 4-4 of Figlooking at the sampler from 1 ure 1,

Figure'5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 ofFigure 4,

Figure 6 is an enlarged view looking down upon the trough and the sampleremoving means therein,

Figure-,7 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line '|'l ofFigure 6, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view showing the means for agitating thescreen through which water is drained from the material removed forsampling purposes.

' During drilling of an oil well, the cuttings are floated upwardly bywater in the well, and these cuttings and water carrying the samedischarged from the top of the well. It is desired to determine the typeof strata through which the drill is cutting and thus permit thepeople'drilling the well to ascertain whether or not the well isapproaching a depth at which oil is likely to be struck. Therefore,the'improved apparatus for testing the drillings will be erected at aconvenient' location near the place where the well is being drilled andthe drillings and water discharged from the top of the well into atrough l which may be of any length desired. This trough is rather deep,as shown in Figure '7, in order that the drillings may pass through thesame as a flowing stream having considerable depth. A portion of thematerial flowing through the trough l is to be removed therefrom, and inorder to do so, there has been provided a spout 2 leading downwardlyfrom the bottom of the trough about a slot 3' which extendslongitudinally of the trough and is relatively narrow, as shown inFigure 6.

Means l for directing material through the slot 3 is mounted in thetrough I and consists of companion plates 5 and 6 disposed verticallyand extending longitudinally of the trough at opposite sides of theslot. These plates are pivotally mounted at their rear ends; as shown at'1,.for swinging adjustment of the plates, and

in order that these plates may be swung transversely of the trough, asindicated by dotted line in Figure 6, there has been provided a fork 8extending downwardly from a sleeve 9 having threaded engagement with thethreaded rod or shaft In about which it fits. The shaft I6 is rotatablymounted transversely of the trough and extends through a housing havinga slot G2 in its under portion to receive the shank of the fork andcause the sleeve and the fork to be shifted transversely of the troughwhen the shaft M is turned through the medium of its hand wheel I3.plate 5 may be shifted toward or away from the plate 3 and apredetermined space provided between their front ends so that a portionof the material flowing through the trough may pass between the plateand be directed through the slot 3 into the discharge spout 2. Whileonly one of the plates 5 and 6 has been shown shiftable transversely ofthe trough, it will be understood that means may also be provided forshifting the other plate and the two plates simultaneously moved towardor away from each other. In view of the fact that the plates are ofsufficient height to project above the surface of the material flowingthrough the trough, the sample directed into the slot 3 for testingpurposes will be of the full depth of the material flowing through thetrough and heavy and light material will both be obtained.

The lower end of the spout 2 communicates with the lower end portion ofa vertically disposed conveyer housing M in which operates an endlessconveyer 5 trained about upper and lower sprocket wheels l6 and I! andcarrying buckets l8 for receiving the sample cuttings delivered from thelower end of the spout 2. As the buckets move about the upper sprocketwheel l6 carried by the upper shaft |9 and then move downwardly in aninverted dumping position, the material in the buckets will be dumpedonto a chute 20 which extends outwardly from the conveyer housing l4 ata downward incline with its lower end disposed over the upper end of ascreen 2|. This screen, which extends from the chute 20 at a downwardincline, constitute means for draining water from the cuttings and itslower end portion is supported between standards 22 which rise from thebase 23 of the apparatus, and at their upper ends are secured to bracingbars 24 extending between the standards and the upper end portion of theconveyer housing M. A grapple plate 25 is carried by the standards 22for extending across the lower portion of the screen and preventing toorapid movement of the material along the screen.

In order to operate the conveyer and the screen, there has been provideda motor 26 having a shaft 21 adapted to be secured in driving engagementwith the shaft 28 of a transmission 29 by a clutch 36. The shaft 3| ofthe transmission extends transversely of the shaft 28 and carries apulley 32 for engagement by a belt 33. The belt 33 extends upwardly withits upper portion trained about the smaller pulley 34 carried by a shaft35 which is rotatably supported under the upper end portion of thescreen 2| by bearings carried by supporting arms 36 projecting forwardlyfrom opposite sides of the vertically disposed conveyer housing I4. Theshaft 35 carries a cam disk 31 having extensions 38 for engaging thedepending finger or lug 39 carried by the screen 2| and agitating thescreen during rotationof the shaft. Resilient hangers 40 support- Itwill thus be seen that the the upper end of the screen and serve toyieldably hold the screen in engagement with the cam disk. Since thesupporting strips are of resilient material and have curved lower endportions, as shown in Figure 8, the screen will be very effectivelyagitated during rotation of the shaft and the material moving down thescreen shaken. A pan for catching the water drained through the screenmay be mounted under it and provided with a spout for delivering thewater onto the ground. It should also be noted that a sprinkler pipe maybe provided over the screen to assist in cleaning the cuttings if sodesired. A second pulley 4| is fixed upon the shaft 35 for engagement bya belt 42 which extends upwardly and is trained about the pulley 43carried by the shaft I9. The shaft I9 and the shaft 35 will thus bedriven from the same source of power.

The sample cuttings which are delivered from the lower end of the screen2| drop upon a table 44 having the form of an endless conveyer trainedabout sprocket wheels 45 and 46 carried by shafts 41 and 48 rotatablymounted in bearings at opposite ends of a frame 49. The endlessc'onveyer or table 44 consists of a plurality of plates 50 pivoted toeach other by transversely extending pins 5| which project from oppositesides of the table for engagement in the notches 52 of the sprocketWheels or disks 45 and 46, and upon referring to Figure 2, it will beseen that the upper flight of the endless conveyer forms a flat surfacefor the table so that the cuttings which drop thereon from the screenwill be well supported. The shaft 41 extends to a transmission 53 havinga shaft 54 carrying a pulley 55, and about this pulley is trained a belt56 which is engaged about a smaller pulley 51 carried by the shaft 3| ofthe transmission 29. Therefore, when the clutch 30 is thrown into aclutching position, rotary motion will be transmitted to the shaft 41 aswell as to the shafts I9 and 35, and the upper flight of the endlessconveyer or table 44 will be moved in a direction to pass the samplecuttings through an oven 58. This oven 58 is heated by means of a heater59 which communicates with the end of the oven adjacent the lower end ofthe screen 2 I, and from the other end of the oven rises an outlet pipe60 for the discharge of warm air or products of combustion deliveredinto the oven as a heating medium. Movement of the endlessconveyer ortable 44 is so timed that the cuttings will be thoroughly dried by thetime they pass through the oven.

The dried cuttings are to be stored in sample bags 6| which will benumbered or otherwise marked in order that the successive samples may beidentified by a geologist when. analyzing them. These bags are suspendedthrough openings 62 formed through the top or platform 63 of a carriage64, and upon referring to Figures Land 4, it will be seen that thecarriage is provided with rollers 65 carried by shafts or axles 66 andresting upon the rails 61 carried by a frame 68. The frame and the railsextend transversely of the table 44 with its legs mounted upon the base23, and by moving the carriage along the rails, the sample bags whichare supported through the openings 62 may be individually moved intoplace under a hopper 69 mounted in position to receive cuttings droppedfrom the table. After each bag has been filled with the desired quantityof cuttings, the carriage is moved longitudinally to bring another baginto place under the hopper proper order and accurately'determine thediffe'rent types of rock or sand through which the drill 'is cuttingand'then prepare a report as to whether oil bearing sands are beingapproached by the drill. In order that the carriage may be shiftedlongitudinally, there has been provided a rack bar I extendinglongitudinally under the top or platform 63 at the outer side edgethereof and'meshing with a gear or pinion H This gear or pinion iscarried by ashaft 12 which is jourj naled through the bearings 13 at theupper end of an arm or bracket 14 carried by the frame 68. Rotary motionmay be imparted to the shaft 12 either by means of a belt'trained abouta pulley 15 and also engaged about a pulley carried by theshaft ofamotor or a hand wheel may be substituted in place of the pl ley. As thebags are filled and removed, other bags are set in place and, after thecarriagehas been moved in one direction for its full length, itsmovement may be reversed and bags in the openings filled with samples.It will thus be seen that samples may be continuously taken during thedrilling of an oil well and an accurate check made by a geologist of thedifferent strata through which the drill passes.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: V

1. Apparatus for sampling cuttings of a well drill comprising a troughfor receiving cuttings from a well, means for diverting a portion of thestream of cuttings passing through the trough for the full depth of thestream, an elevator for receiving the sample cuttings diverted from saidtrough, a screen for receiving the sample cuttings from said elevatorextending at a downward incline therefrom, means to effect movement ofthe cuttings along said screen while liquid drains from the cuttingsthrough the screen, a conveyer constituting a moving table for receivingthe sample cuttings from said screen, a drier through which the samplecuttings are moved by said conveyer, a carriage associated with theconveyer and having containers thereon, said containers being in aposition to receive the dried sample cuttings.

2. An apparatus for sampling cuttings from a well comprising a troughfor receiving a moving stream of cuttings, a spout leading from anopening in the bottom of said trough, means in said trough for divertinga portion of the moving stream of cuttings into said spout for the fulldepth of the stream, means for adjusting said diverting means andcausing a predetermined proportion of the cuttings to be diverted intothe spout, a screen, means for delivering sample cuttings received fromsaid spout onto said screen for movement along the screen while liquiddrains therefrom through the screen, a moving table for receiving samplecuttings from said screen, means for drying the sample cuttings duringmovement of the table, and means for supporting containers in positionto receive the dried sample cuttings from. the table.

3. An apparatus for obtaining samples of well cuttings comprising atrough for receiving a stream of cuttings from a well, a spout leadingfrom an opening in the bottom of said trough, companion blades disposedvertically in said trough about the opening therein and pivotallymounted at their downstream end, and means for shifting the up-streamend of one-plate toward and away from thecompanion plate and disposingthe up-stream ends of the plates in predetermined spaced relation toeach other for directing a predetermined proportion of the moving streamof cuttings through the opening of the trough.

4. An apparatus for sampling well cuttings comprising a trough forreceiving a moving stream of well cuttings, a spout leading from saidtrough about an opening in the bottom thereof, plates disposedvertiwally in said trough about the opening and pivoted to each other atthe downstream end of the opening, a housing extending transverselyacross said trough above said plates, a threaded shaft rotatably mountedin said housing, a fork engaging one plate and having a shank extendingupwardly into thehousing through a longitudinally extending slot thereinand provided with an internally threaded head engaged about the shaftwhereby the fork will be moved to shift the plate engaged therebytransversely of the other plate when the shaft is turned and dispose theup-stream ends of the plates in predetermined spaced relation'to eachother for diverting a predetermined proportion of the moving stream ofcuttings through the opening of the trough into said spout, meansassociated with the spout for delivering sample cuttings from saidspout, draining means associated with said second-mentioned means, meansassociated with said third-mentioned means for drying the drained samplecuttings, and means beneath the third-mentioned means for supporting acontainer in position to receive the dried sample cuttings.

5. An apparatus for sampling well cuttings comprising means forreceiving a moving stream of cuttings from a well, means in saidfirst-mentioned means for diverting a predetermined proportion of themoving stream of cuttings, an elevator for receiving the diverted samplecuttings, a screen for receiving the sample cuttings from said elevatorextending at a downward incline therefrom, means for vibrating saidscreen and eifecte ing movement of the cuttings along the screen whileliquid drains from the cuttings through the screen, means connected withthe screen for receiving the screened cuttings, a drier, saidlastmentioned means conveying the cuttings through said drier, and meansbeneath the end of the conveying means for supporting a container inposition to receive dried cuttings.

6. An apparatus for sampling well cuttings comprising means forreceiving cuttings from a well, means for diverting a predeterminedproportion of said cuttings as a sample, a vertically A disposedelevator for receiving the sample cuttings, a screen extendingfrom theupper portion of said elevator at a downward incline inposition toreceive the sample cuttings from the elevator, yieldable meanssupporting the upper end of said screen, a shaft rotatably mountedadjacent the upper end of said screen, a cam carried by said shaft, anabutment carried by said screen for engagement by said cam whereby thescreen will be vibrated to effect movement of the cuttings along thescreen as liquid drains from the cuttings through the screen, conveyermeans for receiving the screened cuttings, a drier, said last-mentionedmeans conveying the cuttings through said drier, and means beneath theconveyer means for supporting a container in position to receive thedried cuttings. I

7. An apparatus for sampling Well cutting means for diverting a portionof the cuttings as samples, a screen, means for delivering the samplecuttings onto said screen formovement alon the screen while liquiddrains from the cuttings, a drier, a horizontally extending endlessconveyer having its upper flight disposed 'in position to receive samplecuttings from. said screen and move the cuttings through said drier, andmeans beneath one end of the conveyer for supporting containers andsuccessively moving the containers into position to be filled with thedried cuttings.

8. An apparatus for sampling well cuttings comprising means forreceiving cuttings from a well, means for diverting a portion of thecuttings as samples, means for screening the samplecuttings, means fordelivering the samplecuttings onto said screen, a drier, an endlessconveyer for receiving cuttings from said screen and conducting the samethrough said drier, a track extending transversely of said conveyer, acarriage movable along said traok and provided with means for supportinga plurality of containers in-spaced relation to each otherlongitudinally of the carriage, and means for moving the carriage alonthe track and successively moving thecontainers into position to receivethe dried-cuttings.

9. In an. apparatus for sampling well cuttings, a trough for receiving amoving stream of well cuttings, a spout leading from the trough about anopening in the bottom thereof, plates disposed vertically in the troughabout the opening, means pivotally connecting the plates to each otherat one end of the opening, a housing extending transversely across thetrough above the plates, a threaded shaft rotatably mounted in thehousing, a fork engaging one of said plates and having a shank extendingupwardly into the housing, a longitudinally extending slot being formedin the housing to receive the shank, said shank havin an internallythreaded head engaged about the shaft whereby the fork will be moved toshift the plate engaged thereby transversely with respect to the otherplate when the shaft is rotated for disposing the up-stream ends of theplates apart for diverting a predetermined portion of the moving streamof cuttings through the opening of the trough into the spout, and meanscarried by the shaft for permitting rotation thereof.

JONATHAN M. LILLIGREN.

